Student & Alumni Profiles

The MAX phase research and publications of Professor Michel Barsoum and his team at Drexel over the last 15 years persuaded me to come here, and it was a happy coincidence that Dr. Tamer El-Raghy, who was the first student who worked with Prof. Barsoum on MAX phases, got his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the same school where I got mine, Cairo University.
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I like the size of the department. We're small enough that we all know each other and the staff knows each of us well, but large enough to have awesome research opportunities for undergraduates as well as graduates.
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The numerous opportunities and experiences given by Drexel materials coupled with my research advisors' training and advice has greatly equipped me for my post-graduation plans. I'm confident that, after my graduation, I'll be ready to immerse myself in more in-depth interdisciplinary research work.
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I feel that the course work and research studies undertaken at Drexel have contributed significantly to how I do my work. I constantly revert back to the basic fundamentals taught in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
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Studying abroad is a precise experience where you can learn a lot of things that you have never learned before. However, it is important to know what the plan of your future career is and what you expect to get before applying for a degree and choosing a university.
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I find that working in a research group makes me more interested in fundamental concepts that come up in Physics or Chemistry 101, because I now see their application beyond solving exam problems.
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I wanted a program where I could be hands-on and comprehensively learn the materials I was studying in my courses. Drexel‘s Materials Department had so many opportunities available for me to get involved with right away, I knew it was where I wanted to go for my degree.
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The skills that I developed as a Ph.D. student have greatly contributed to my job. While learning academic knowledge of materials science is a must, I value the "soft" skills such as networking and communication that I developed while at Drexel.
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Since it's not feasible for all international students to visit the campus in the US before applying, when you have questions about anything related to the programs or admission in general, email the admissions office or the department. Also, if you would like to know something from a current student's perspective, there are peer mentors in the college and student organization leaders available to answer questions.
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I have the feeling of having been well prepared for all post-graduation options. During my time at Drexel, besides all my research activity, I taught a lot, which prepared me well for any educational work environment.
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I want to develop real clothes that integrate technology in a very practical way. I want the technology to be accessible to everyone. I want to bridge the gap between design and science and make quality and beautiful materials, turning them into fabrics and full garments.
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An attraction to join Drexel Materials was that there was something special about the small, intimate, but highly visible department that provided me a sense of belonging, which I had been longing to find. The professors were accessible outside the classroom and showed a true interest in their students' performance.
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The biggest thing I learned during my Ph.D. was that you can't be rigid or inflexible in your thinking or interests. I changed topics quite drastically between my Ph.D. work and post-doc, however, having a firm grounding on how to develop a research topic made this easy.
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I feel that Drexel has really prepared me for the classes I‘m taking here, which are second year Master‘s classes. I think this program is completely cohesive with Drexel‘s Materials program and I know it‘s going to be a great and rewarding experience. I‘m meeting great people and seeing beautiful places, doing so many things I wouldn‘t have been able to otherwise.
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Aside from the pure academic elements of the education, the type of education I received in Drexel materials, with the lab work and a great deal of emphasis on technical presentations and the co-op periods, allowed me to advance quickly in the industrial world.
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My Ph.D. work has helped me understand how to work in a team and helped me develop independent thinking. My work has also been quite challenging and I have been lucky to meet it with success on a few occasions.
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I feel that my Drexel Materials degree has prepared me to handle a future in any of the three career sectors: academia, industry, or federal (national laboratories), and has given me the opportunity to seek the career I desire.
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I decided to major in materials science and engineering is because materials are everywhere! I like the feeling that, when touching everything around me, I can tell how it is made, why it is made in this way, and how to make it better.
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